British Student Jailed in Dubai Released After 25-Year Sentence
Mia O’Brien, a 23-year-old law student from the University of London, has been released after being sentenced to 25 years in Dubai for drug possession and supply, bringing a dramatic conclusion to a case that captured international attention in 2025.
O’Brien was in the United Arab Emirates last year on holiday when authorities raided a party and reportedly found 50 grams of cocaine, with a street value estimated at $3,300. Alongside a friend and the friend’s boyfriend, she was arrested and charged with drug dealing—a crime in Dubai that carries severe penalties.
The trial, conducted entirely in Arabic, ended with O’Brien receiving a quarter-century prison sentence and a court fine exceeding $100,000. She maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings, pleading not guilty.
In a public statement on social media, Mia’s mother Danielle described the ordeal: “I haven’t seen my daughter since last October. Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life. This is a young girl, who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price.”
Efforts to support Mia included a GoFundMe campaign, which was later removed for violating rules regarding legal defense fundraising. Danielle subsequently launched a Facebook fundraiser to continue raising awareness and campaign for her daughter’s release, collaborating with the advocacy group Detained in Dubai.
The release was confirmed via social media, with Danielle expressing relief and excitement: “Thank you so much everyone, am still in shock, am buzzing, can’t wait to give her the tightest cuddle ever. She’s coming home, she’s coming home, my baby is coming home.”
During her time in custody, O’Brien reportedly shared a prison cell with six other women and slept on a mattress on the floor at Al-Awir Central Prison, a facility described by some as extremely harsh.
The exact circumstances and reasoning behind her early release have not been officially disclosed, though campaigners and family members had been working diligently to appeal her conviction. Sources suggest that she could be back home in the United Kingdom in time for the Christmas holidays.
This case highlights the severe penalties for drug-related offenses in the UAE and has sparked renewed discussion about legal risks for travelers abroad. Mia O’Brien’s release is a relief to her family and supporters worldwide, who followed her case closely over the past year.